Rare Aussie Triplets Born: Aurora, Niara, and Moana Arrive in Tasmania
A couple in Tasmania celebrates the birth of identical triplet girls, a rare event in the state, bringing joy to their family.
Tasmania, Triplets, Aurora, Niara, Moana, Royal Hobart Hospital
Tasmania: A young couple just welcomed the first set of identical triplet girls in the state in about ten years. Can you believe it? This kind of thing happens only once in 100,000 births!
The girls, named Aurora, Niara, and Moana, were born via C-section at 32 weeks. They each weighed around 1.5 kg. Proud dad Mathew Alves shared that the girls are doing great and can’t wait to head back home to Squeaking Point.
Mathew said they had a magical moment doing skin-to-skin contact just a day after the birth. He couldn’t stop smiling, saying, “They’re feeding great, they’re doing great, they’re healthy.”
Mum Keely Walsh, who works as a clinical social worker, expressed her gratitude to the hospital staff for their support. She had been told her chances of conceiving naturally were pretty low due to health issues.
The couple chose the girls’ names with care. Aurora pays homage to Mathew’s Portuguese roots, Niara reflects Keely’s Indigenous heritage, and Moana is a nod to their love for the ocean and a favorite film.
Interestingly, the girls were due on Keely’s birthday, and both parents are Pisces, hoping their daughters would be too. How cool is that?
According to the Department of Health, these triplet births are incredibly rare. Keely’s grandmother was a triplet, and Mathew has twins in his family, which might have played a role.
Dr. Lindsay Edwards, an obstetrician at Royal Hobart Hospital, mentioned that this is only the second set of identical triplets she’s seen in her career. She explained how these triplets share a placenta but have their own sacs, making them quite unique.
While identical triplets are rare, non-identical ones are more common. The hospital has seen five sets of triplets in the last year and a half. What a time to be alive!